Joliet, IL Solar Panels
Solar Power in Joliet
If you live in Joliet, IL, and you’ve watched your electricity bill climb, you’re not alone. Illinois electricity prices have increased 22% from 2020 to 2024, and many Joliet homeowners are now exploring solar panel installation as a way to take more control over their energy.
You’re in good company—Illinois ranks 12th in the nation for residential solar installations. Whether you’re just starting to research or ready to compare options, this guide explains how solar installation works for homes in our area. You can also explore our guide on home solar panels to learn more.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Joliet, IL?
See real solar costs for your Joliet home, built from our actual local installations. This calculator uses firsthand data from neighborhoods across Joliet and nearby areas like Shorewood, Crest Hill, Rockdale, and Plainfield—giving you a clear, honest estimate based on what your neighbors have already paid.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Illinois electricity prices rose about 22% from 2020 to 2024, so many Joliet homeowners are turning to solar to gain more control over rising bills.
- Joliet homeowners can save around $61,000 over 25 years with solar, and can start with no upfront cost through a LightReach lease.
- Illinois incentives make solar more affordable, including ComEd rebates, net metering, and a 20-year property tax exemption—even though the federal tax credit has ended.
Joliet Electricity Prices
Electricity costs in Joliet, IL have been climbing for years. Understanding the trend can help you plan smarter energy choices for your home.
Illinois electricity prices rose about 20% from 2021 to 2024, moving from 13.2 to 15.9 cents per kWh. That steady increase adds up on monthly bills for Joliet homeowners.
Solar installation in Joliet offers one way to gain more control over these rising costs. By generating your own electricity, you can reduce how much you buy from the grid each month.
Over time, a solar panel installation can help protect you from future rate increases. Instead of paying more every year, you lock in predictable energy for your home for decades to come.
Price of Energy: Illinois vs National Average
Joliet Area Utility Providers
In Joliet, IL, ComEd is the main electricity provider. In 2023, ComEd customers paid about 14.8¢ per kWh—below both the Illinois state average of 15.7¢ and the national average of 16.0¢.
While ComEd’s 2023 rate sits below average, Illinois prices have been rising. ComEd’s supply costs shift with market demand, seasonal use, and grid upgrades, so what looks affordable today can climb quickly year over year.
Solar panel installation in Joliet can help homeowners offset these variable ComEd costs. By generating your own energy, you gain more predictability and protection against future rate increases—one reason many local residents are exploring solar.
Joliet Utilities Electricity Rates
Illinois Solar Incentives
Going solar in Joliet is more affordable thanks to several solar incentives in Illinois that help offset the cost of installation.
Joliet homeowners can tap into programs like Illinois Solar for All, ComEd smart inverter rebates for solar and battery storage, net metering under Smart Solar Billing, and the 20-year solar property tax exemption.
While the federal tax credit has ended, Illinois incentives remain. Leasing through LightReach simplifies things, since Palmetto handles the commercial ITC and passes savings along.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) | Rebate | Illinois Solar for All provides income-eligible households (at or below 80% of area median income) with no-upfront-cost solar installations that guarantee at least 50% savings on the value of energy produced. | Learn More |
| ComEd & Ameren Distributed Generation (DG) Smart Inverter Rebate – Solar | Rebate | ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers receive a $300-per-kW upfront rebate for installing a solar system equipped with a smart inverter. | Learn More |
| ComEd & Ameren Distributed Generation (DG) Smart Inverter Rebate – Battery Storage | Rebate | ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers can receive a $300-per-kWh cash rebate for installing a battery storage system with a smart inverter, with enrollment in a qualifying rate plan required. | |
| Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Program – Battery Storage Rebate | Rebate | Under the CRGA-mandated Virtual Power Plant program launching by June 30, 2026, residential battery storage customers can earn the $300/kWh DG rebate by allowing the utility to dispatch their battery during high-demand events. | Learn More |
| Illinois Net Metering / Smart Solar Billing | Net Metering | Illinois offers net metering for solar customers, with legacy customers (systems installed before January 1, 2025) receiving full retail-rate credits, while new customers receive supply-only credits under the Smart Solar Billing policy. | |
| Illinois Solar Property Tax Exemption | Property Tax Exemption | Illinois law exempts the added home value from a solar installation from property tax assessments for 20 years, protecting homeowners from higher property tax bills after going solar. | Learn More |
Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) is a state program designed to make solar accessible to low- and moderate-income households, including residents of Joliet. To qualify, your household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for your county. As a benchmark, a single-person household in Cook County qualifies with income under approximately $65,000. There is no credit check required, and initial income self-attestation is permitted.
Through ILSFA, an Approved Vendor installs a solar system at no upfront cost. Participants typically pay around $25/month for 15 years (approximately $4,500 total), after which the system transfers to them at no additional cost. The program legally guarantees a minimum of 50% savings on the retail value of the solar energy the system produces. Participants can choose to purchase with cash, a loan (with no prepayment penalties and no lien on the home), or through a lease or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
Important note for 2026: Single-family residential capacity was reached in 2025, so new applicants will need to join a waitlist for the 2026–27 program year cycle, which opens in June 2026. Visit illinoissfa.com to check eligibility and join the waitlist.
ComEd and Ameren Illinois offer a Distributed Generation (DG) Smart Inverter Rebate of $300 per kilowatt (kW) of solar capacity installed. For a typical 8.5 kW residential system, this translates to $2,550 back in your pocket. The rebate is paid as cash within approximately 60 days after your system receives Permission to Operate (PTO) from the utility.
To be eligible, your solar system must include a qualifying “smart” inverter. Joliet is served by ComEd (northern Illinois), so homeowners in Joliet qualify for this rebate. You do not need to enroll in a special rate plan to receive the solar-only portion of this rebate.
Contact ComEd at (800) 334-7661 or visit comed.com, or contact Ameren Illinois at (800) 755-5000 or visit ameren.com/illinois to apply and confirm current program availability.
In addition to the solar rebate, ComEd and Ameren Illinois offer a $300-per-kWh rebate for battery storage systems installed with a smart inverter. For a typical Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh), this rebate can be worth approximately $4,000. The cash rebate is paid within approximately 60 days after your system receives Permission to Operate.
To qualify for the battery storage rebate, you must enroll in a specific utility rate plan: ComEd customers must select the Basic Electric Service Hourly (BESH) real-time pricing plan, while Ameren Illinois customers must enroll in the Peak Time Rewards demand response program. These rate plans are designed to align your battery usage with grid needs during peak demand periods.
Joliet is served by ComEd, so homeowners in Joliet are eligible for this rebate. Contact ComEd at (800) 334-7661 or visit comed.com, or contact Ameren Illinois at (800) 755-5000 or visit ameren.com/illinois for application details and to confirm current program status.
The Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program is a new battery storage incentive created by the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), signed into law on January 8, 2026. Utilities are required to launch the short-term VPP program no later than June 30, 2026. Residential customers who enroll their battery storage system in the VPP can receive the same $300/kWh distributed storage rebate as the standard DG program — without needing to enroll in the BESH or Peak Time Rewards rate plans.
In a VPP, the utility can briefly direct your battery to discharge electricity to the grid during high-demand periods, helping stabilize grid reliability. In exchange, you receive the upfront rebate and potentially ongoing compensation for your participation in dispatch events. This makes battery storage financially attractive for homeowners in Joliet who may not otherwise qualify for or want to enroll in the standard DG rebate’s required rate plans.
A longer-term VPP program is also authorized to launch by December 31, 2028, which will expand eligibility to additional devices including smart thermostats and EV batteries. For more information, visit the Illinois Power Agency at ipa.illinois.gov or contact your utility.
Illinois law requires ComEd and Ameren Illinois to offer net metering for residential solar systems up to 25 kW. If your solar system was interconnected and operational before January 1, 2025, you are grandfathered into full retail-rate net metering for the lifetime of your system — meaning excess electricity you send to the grid is credited at the full retail rate (roughly 12–15¢/kWh).
For new solar installations interconnected on or after January 1, 2025, Illinois has transitioned to a policy called Smart Solar Billing. Under this model, credits for excess generation apply only to the supply portion of your electricity bill — not delivery charges or fixed fees. This results in a lower effective credit rate of approximately 6–8¢ per kWh depending on your utility, which is roughly half the value of legacy net metering. This makes it especially important to size your system carefully to maximize self-consumption.
Unused credits can roll over month-to-month. Since Joliet is served by ComEd, visit comed.com or ameren.com/illinois for full details on your utility’s net metering or Smart Solar Billing policy.
Under Illinois law (35 ILCS 200/10-10), the added value that a solar energy system contributes to your home is excluded from your property tax assessment for 20 years. Solar panels typically increase a home’s market value by $15,000–$25,000, but without this exemption, that increase could add $250–$750 or more to your annual property tax bill. The exemption ensures you capture the full financial benefit of your solar investment without a tax penalty.
The exemption applies statewide to qualifying residential solar installations, including homes in Joliet. To claim it, you must file Form PTAX-330 (Solar Energy System Assessment Freeze) with your local county assessor after your system is installed. The exemption is not automatic — you must apply to receive it.
For more information on the exemption and to download Form PTAX-330, contact your county assessor’s office or visit the Illinois Department of Revenue at tax.illinois.gov.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with Illinois incentives.
Get a Free QuoteJoliet Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Joliet enjoys warm summers and cold, snowy winters, with plenty of sunny days year-round. Despite seasonal cloud cover, a well-designed solar system captures ample energy for reliable production across every month.
Solar Production in Joliet by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Panel Systems in Joliet
We’ve mapped solar installations across the United States, right down to the address level. Explore this interactive heatmap to see how many neighbors in Joliet, IL have switched to solar. Click any hexagon to discover installations in that area, and see the communities powering their homes with clean energy.
Leasing Solar Panels
In Joliet, your utility is ComEd—and Palmetto offers a solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) here. With a PPA, you don’t buy the system. Instead, you simply pay for the clean power your panels produce at a set price per kilowatt-hour, often lower than your current ComEd rate.
Unlike paying cash, there’s no large upfront cost and no maintenance to manage yourself. Palmetto owns, monitors, and services the system, so if anything needs attention, we handle it. You just enjoy the savings. To compare your choices, see our guide on whether to buy or lease solar.
Because panels produce more in summer, your PPA payments rise a bit then and dip in winter—but the yearly savings closely match a fixed lease. Learn more about how it works with LightReach.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Explore LightReach LeasingFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. Joliet, IL is served by ComEd, which offers net metering for home solar systems. If your system was interconnected before January 1, 2025, you receive full retail-rate credits for excess energy sent to the grid.
For systems connected on or after January 1, 2025, Illinois uses Smart Solar Billing. Excess generation is credited only on the supply portion of your bill—around 6 to 8 cents per kWh—so careful system sizing matters. Unused credits roll over month to month.
Yes. In Joliet, IL, owned or purchased solar panels can increase your home’s value. A Zillow study found homes with solar panels sell for about 4.1% more. Illinois also offers a 20-year property tax exemption on that added value.
This benefit applies to systems you own, not leased or PPA systems. With a leased system, resale works differently, since the buyer may need to assume the existing lease agreement rather than gaining added home value.
Many Joliet homeowners go solar with a LightReach lease, starting for a low fixed monthly payment—as low as $79/month for a medium home—with no upfront cost. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, so you simply enjoy the savings.
If you prefer to buy, a cash purchase for an average Joliet home is around $28,095. Note the federal 30% tax credit is no longer available for residential cash purchases after the 2025 federal law change. See the calculator above for pricing by home size.
Leasing solar through Palmetto’s LightReach program means one simple monthly payment covers everything: the panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a protection program with a 90% Production Guarantee. There’s no upfront cost, and payments are typically less than your current ComEd bill, so you can start saving right away.
For a typical 9.84 kW system in Joliet, IL, the estimated lease payment is about $79/month. Because Palmetto owns the system, it claims the commercial tax credit and passes those savings to you.
At Palmetto, we’ve completed over 9,050 solar installations across Illinois since 2020, pairing national resources with a local focus for Joliet homeowners. We offer some of the industry’s best financing options and a trusted install network to make going solar simpler.
The right company for you should offer transparent pricing, quality equipment, and long-term support. In Joliet, we handle everything—design, permitting, installation, and ongoing monitoring—so you can feel confident in your switch to clean energy.
Yes. Solar panels work well in Joliet’s climate. The area averages about 4.6 peak sun hours per day and sees plenty of sunny days across all four seasons, even with cold, snowy winters and warm summers.
Your production will vary throughout the year. Output peaks during long summer days and dips in December when daylight is shorter. Panels still generate electricity on cloudy days, and a well-designed system captures reliable energy year-round.
Solar panels are low maintenance. In Joliet, occasional rain helps rinse away dust and debris, and there are no moving parts to wear out, so most systems run reliably for decades with little attention.
With a LightReach lease, Palmetto owns the system and handles all maintenance, monitoring, and repairs at no extra cost. It also includes a 90% Production Guarantee, so you can feel confident your panels keep performing.